N.W.T. evacuees told to expect limited health services when they get home

N.W.T. health officials say it'll take time — possibly up to a month — for all health services to resume in the territory, once residents return home.

And officials also say that evacuees who might therefore decide to stay where they are, even with evacuation orders lifted, will no longer get the same support.

"We understand there may be individuals who are concerned about the availability of health and social services in Yellowknife," reads a Friday news release from the N.W.T. Health and Social Services Authority (NTHSSA).

"Should you choose not to return to your home community after an evacuation order is lifted because of this concern, please be aware that supports for evacuees may cease when re-entry flights have been completed."   

Evacuation orders are still in place for some N.W.T. communities. The order for Yellowknife, Ndilǫ, Dettah will be lifted at noon on Wednesday, meaning that's when residents can return.

Right now, most health services in Yellowknife other than emergency department care are still suspended.

Dr. Claudia Kraft, the territorial medical director, told CBC News on Friday that initially, after the re-entry, there will be  "basic services but they're going to be quite limited in the first few days."

"We just think it's really important for people to have as much information about what is and isn't going to be available to them as they're making their own decisions about when the right time to return to Yellowknife is going to be, for them," she said.

Most "core services" should be in place within a couple of weeks, Kraft said. 

The Friday news release from NTHSSA says some services may initially be available "pending confirmation of appropriate levels of qualified staff."

At Stanton Territorial Hospital, this includes: 

For community services, this includes: 

In addition, Public Health will be closed but beginning to schedule urgent and missed appointments. Home care services will also be reduced.

Child and Family Services will provide support for clients' reentry as well as emergency child protection service.